Michael J. Pugh

One of the firm’s founders, Mike has over 30 years of experience advising clients on a broad array of real estate, corporate, and estate planning matters. He is an expert in complex land use and real estate transactional matters and large-scale development issues. Mike represents members of the development community in legal matters relating to the planning, establishment, and operation of common interest communities and in real estate tax assessment matters. He also represents both lenders and borrowers in finance transactions throughout the United States; as well as clients in the acquisition, financing, development and disposition of every product type in the real estate industry. Mike is known for providing valuable counsel to the firm’s clients and knows how to manage transactions to achieve timely and successful outcomes.

Raised in Iowa City, Mike has a long history of community involvement. His experience includes 32 years of coaching high school football and over 20 years serving as a Director of the Greater Iowa City Area Homebuilders Association. His leadership and expertise have earned him recognition as Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” – Land Use and Zoning Law, for the eastern Iowa market (2020, 2022 and 2023). The Corridor Business Journal also selected Mike for inclusion in the 2022, 2023 and 2024 editions of the Corridor Leaders 250 – a listing of the 250 most influential business leaders in the Cedar Rapids-Iowa City Corridor. 

Outside of work, Mike enjoys spending time with his wife Cathy and four children; running, biking and traveling.